Vicenza, September 20, 2008 – January, 6 2009

Andrea Palladio was born in Padua on St Andrew’s Day, 30 November, 1508.

Andrea Palladio is acknowledged today as the most important architect the western world has ever had. Over the last years, the decline of the modernist movement in architecture has aroused a renewed interest for the classical style and for Palladio’s works.

This exhibition will seek to use both traditional and innovative media through which to present the full range of the work of this exceptional architect and his legacy. It will place Palladio within his contemporary historical context and will explore aspects of Palladio’s work which have not been adequately presented before.  It will include an extensive selection of original drawings, as well as relevant paintings, medals and coins, architectural fragments, sculpture and books and manuscripts. This material will be complemented be large-scale architectural models, video and interactive computer animation. The exhibition will present to the public a rounded, engaging and essentially new synthesis of what is known about Palladio’s life, architecture and influence.

Spread all over the Vicenza and the Veneto area are dozens of magnificent villas and sumptuous buildings as the everlasting heritage of his architectural genius.

Would you like to discover the beauty of Palladio’s Villas? Check our ITALIAN WORLD HERITAGE SITES Tour!

Tuscan colours and landscapes

• Full day excursion to Val d’Orcia, with its hills covered in vineyards and plantations, its warm colours and the lively piazzas.
• First stop: Siena, an amazingly beautiful city of medieval origin, characterised by the orange-brown colour of its land and its buildings. Visit to the Cathedral in Piazza del Duomo and a walk to the Piazza del Campo, the heart of the city.
• For lunch, a delicious light meal in Val d’Orcia, including typical products and great wine.
• In the afternoon visit the medieval town of Montalcino and the renaissance town of Pienza.
• Return to Florence in the evening.

(Accommodation: Florence  -  Meals: B, L  -  Private Tours: Full Day Tour: Siena, Montalcino, Pienza)

Tuscan colours and landscapes

• Full day excursion to Val d’Orcia, with its hills covered in vineyards and plantations, its warm colours and the lively piazzas.
• First stop: Siena, an amazingly beautiful city of medieval origin, characterised by the orange-brown colour of its land and its buildings. Visit to the Cathedral in Piazza del Duomo and a walk to the Piazza del Campo, the heart of the city.
• For lunch, a delicious light meal in Val d’Orcia, including typical products and great wine.
• In the afternoon visit the medieval town of Montalcino and the renaissance town of Pienza.
• Return to Florence in the evening.

(Accommodation: Florence  -  Meals: B, L  -  Private Tours: Full Day Tour: Siena, Montalcino, Pienza)

The Masterpieces of the past in the Uffizi and the ones of the present in the workshops of Florentine artisans

• A day dedicated to the discovery of the Italian artistic genius, with two exclusive itineraries.
• In the morning, visit to Oltrarno (literally “on the other side” of the Arno River), one of the most fascinating and least known neighbourhoods of Florence, place of many of the artisan goldsmiths workshops, Florentine mosaic ateliers, restorers and wood carvers, gilders and engravers.
• Early in the afternoon, guided visit to one of the most famous museums in the world: the Uffizi Gallery, which displays the works and biggest achievements of the greatest Italian artists: Cimabue, Giotto, Botticelli, Leonardo, Michelangelo, Raffaello, Tiziano and many others. Access to the Vasari Corridor, the most exclusive area of the entire Museum, normally closed to the public.
• The rest of the afternoon and the evening is free for your own leisure.

(Accommodation: Florence  -  Meals: B  -  Private Tours: Oltrarno and Artisan Workshops,  Uffizi Museum and Vasari Corridor)

The Masterpieces of the past in the Uffizi and the ones of the present in the workshops of Florentine artisans

• A day dedicated to the discovery of the Italian artistic genius, with two exclusive itineraries.
• In the morning, visit to Oltrarno (literally “on the other side” of the Arno River), one of the most fascinating and least known neighbourhoods of Florence, place of many of the artisan goldsmiths workshops, Florentine mosaic ateliers, restorers and wood carvers, gilders and engravers.
• Early in the afternoon, guided visit to one of the most famous museums in the world: the Uffizi Gallery, which displays the works and biggest achievements of the greatest Italian artists: Cimabue, Giotto, Botticelli, Leonardo, Michelangelo, Raffaello, Tiziano and many others. Access to the Vasari Corridor, the most exclusive area of the entire Museum, normally closed to the public.
• The rest of the afternoon and the evening is free for your own leisure.

(Accommodation: Florence  -  Meals: B  -  Private Tours: Oltrarno and Artisan Workshops,  Uffizi Museum and Vasari Corridor)

The city of Michelangelo

• Day completely dedicated to the discovery of one of the cities, where the Italian artistic genius has reached its peak:  Florence.
• In the morning, transfer from Venice to Florence.
• In the afternoon, from the piazzale Michelangelo, from where you can admire all of Florence, we will wander through the city and visit the main monuments, avoiding the most crowded places and giving priority to the most characteristic places: the Cathedral with its incredible Dome of Brunelleschi, the Baptistery and Giotto’s spectacular Bell Tower, the austere Piazza della Repubblica and the elegant Piazza della Signoria, the characteristic Ponte Vecchio. Afterward we’ll take you to the Galleria dell’Accademia to admire the David, Michelangelo’s indisputable masterpiece.
• A very high quality Italian cuisine dinner, in one of the best gourmet restaurants of Florence.

(Accommodation:  Florence  -  Meals: B, D  -  Private Tours: the centre of Florence and Galleria dell’Accademia)

The city of Michelangelo

• Day completely dedicated to the discovery of one of the cities, where the Italian artistic genius has reached its peak:  Florence.
• In the morning, transfer from Venice to Florence.
• In the afternoon, from the piazzale Michelangelo, from where you can admire all of Florence, we will wander through the city and visit the main monuments, avoiding the most crowded places and giving priority to the most characteristic places: the Cathedral with its incredible Dome of Brunelleschi, the Baptistery and Giotto’s spectacular Bell Tower, the austere Piazza della Repubblica and the elegant Piazza della Signoria, the characteristic Ponte Vecchio. Afterward we’ll take you to the Galleria dell’Accademia to admire the David, Michelangelo’s indisputable masterpiece.
• A very high quality Italian cuisine dinner, in one of the best gourmet restaurants of Florence.

(Accommodation:  Florence  -  Meals: B, D  -  Private Tours: the centre of Florence and Galleria dell’Accademia)

The genius of Andrea Palladio and his Villas

• Excursion from Venice: visit to the beautiful 16th century villas, designed by Palladio, a man of equilibrium and measure, an architect with a extraordinary sense of proportion and spatial relationships: Villa Emo, the purest expression of the Palladian classical style, Villa Foscari-La Malcontenta, the most famous and Villa Barbaro, the most richly decorated with the frescos of Paolo Veronese.
• The tour of these sites will have an interval to visit the enchanting town of Asolo, also known as “the Pearl of Veneto”, to have a delicious lunch and taste good wine in a local restaurant.
• In the evening, return to Venice.

(Accommodation: Venice  -  Meals:  B, L  -  Private Tours: Full Day Tour: Palladian Villas and Asolo)

The genius of Andrea Palladio and his Villas

• Excursion from Venice: visit to the beautiful 16th century villas, designed by Palladio, a man of equilibrium and measure, an architect with a extraordinary sense of proportion and spatial relationships: Villa Emo, the purest expression of the Palladian classical style, Villa Foscari-La Malcontenta, the most famous and Villa Barbaro, the most richly decorated with the frescos of Paolo Veronese.
• The tour of these sites will have an interval to visit the enchanting town of Asolo, also known as “the Pearl of Veneto”, to have a delicious lunch and taste good wine in a local restaurant.
• In the evening, return to Venice.

(Accommodation: Venice  -  Meals:  B, L  -  Private Tours: Full Day Tour: Palladian Villas and Asolo)

The city on water

• Visit to the “hidden Venice”: walk through narrow footways along the canals, mostly frequented by the Venetian themselves, from the Market of Rialto to the characteristic neighbourhood of Canaletto, to arrive at the spectacular Church ‘Chiesa dei Frari’, in which works by Tiziano and Donatello can be admired.
• Romantic gondola tour through the channels. It is not possible to visit Venice without going for a Gondola tour!
• Afternooon at your own leisure to explore this amazing city or the islands of the lagoon (Murano, Burano and Torcello).
• Dinner in a typical traditional Venetian ‘osteria’ away from the mass tourism and a baroque music concert to enjoy the evening.

(Accommodation:  Venice  -  Meals: B, D  -  Private Tours: Hidden Venice, Gondola tour, Music concert)